Are we all heading for pension poverty?

If yesterday’s report into the state of our pensions is to be believed then the answer is ‘yes’ – unless some dramatic changes are made, and fast. But will the recommendations be enough to save our paltry pensions?

‘Too many people are stuck in a complex, costly and inefficient system that relegates the consumer’s interest to second place. On top of that, they simply aren’t saving enough to secure a decent retirement.’

Not my words, but those of Lord McFall, leader of the Workplace Retirement Income Commission, which issued its final report yesterday. He also said:

‘People need to get more bang for their buck, or they’re not going to bother with a pension. Instead they’ll end up spending today, ignoring tomorrow, and scraping by in poverty on the state pension. We cannot stand by and let that happen. The complacency of many in the pensions industry is alarming.’

The future isn’t bright

The independent body paints an alarming picture of the state of things to come. It highlighted the contrast between defined benefit (or final salary) pension schemes, enjoyed by many who have already retired, with the less certain (and less generous) defined contribution schemes that most people in the private sector are offered today.

The report warned that many are paying in too little – and that 14 million aren’t saving for a pension at all!

The situation should improve in 2012 when those who don’t have a workplace pension are automatically enrolled into one. But even then, McFall is concerned that the minimum contribution level of 8% of your salary (from both you and your employer combined) still won’t be enough for retirement.

He is also worried about high investment charges, insisting that these should be capped at 1.5% for the first 10 years and 1% thereafter, and at the deal we get when we turn our pension pot into retirement income. Securing a better outcome here is something Which? has long supported.

Are you positive about your pension?

Shopping around for the best rate is clearly beneficial, but only one third of people currently switch their pension provider. Our research suggests the difference between the best and the worst standard rates can be as much as 10% a year. For those with a medical condition the potential loss is even greater – an enhanced annuity might pay out 40% extra.

How do you feel about your pension arrangements? Are you confident you’re saving enough and do you know how much income you might get? If you’ve already retired, do you feel as if you’ve hit the jackpot – or is talk of a ‘golden generation’ over exaggeration?

Lord McFall has thrown down a challenge to government and the pension industry – many of our futures depend on whether they will they be up to meeting the challenge.

It is nearly impossible to save enough. We work for roughly 40 years, and then now live for 40 years on the pension. This is an impossible formula unless we have major investment growth without major inflation. The industry has taken too much commission from pensions, and expects to talke lots more. Gone are the days when the company directors managed the funds as part of the company scheme, with zero overheads. Now looking with my fund as to how to improve on drawdown to avoid poor annuity rates.

Give up teaching and try your luck in the real world, if you can. Teaching, even with a reduced pension (but still much better than in the private sector) will very quickly start looking pretty good again.

I am ex teacher with a post targeted out with Thatchers Cuts surviving on a pension based on less than those who were entering the profession in 1996 . Since done a BA 2001 & MA 2003 in real world which financed myself finding Union NUT is a call centre looking after own interest when Government medical targetting not giving antibiotics which was a clear case of DISABILITY discrimination ?!! In fact caused cardiac arrest 6 years ago because they are all ignoring Chronically Sick and Disabled Act 1970 regarding access to the medical & social .Needless to say although retired my work concerns age & identity & how one is viewed by system as one ages ” I am rapidly becoming a spectre ” Roland Barthes linking photography to fine art paintings Impressionism Abstraction utube9773165. No wonder the below is no longer teaching?

Given that MPs are public employees? are they subject to the same austerity measures. ie. redundancies, cuts in their pension benefits? Can people really be expected to contribute large amounts of their income over many years when there`s no guarantee of anything at the end of it, apart from that is the people running most of these schemes will have done very nicely out of them.

If the Danish or German pension funds are better than ours, why don’t we invest in them?

Does any one know? I have a French back account and French insurance, previously I had the French equivalent of a unit trust, but sold it. It could be a great business opportunity for a finance company

Not cynical at all. Note how well the MPs protect themselves financially. It would be interesting to see a comparison of all Government pension schemes. I bet the MP’s will be the best.

Notice how quiet this subject is. The BBC and the press never seem to comment on the very generous MPs salaries, allowances and pensions. They just use teacher’s or government workers. Come to that, the BBC have quite generous pensions too I believe.

One will only ever get out what one has put into the system! It has been more than obvious over several decades, that we were getting far too much for what we put in, but what we put in was, to a degree, governed by Statutory Legislation. Therefore, this mess is down to our Elected Representitives who failed to keep their fingers on the pulse. I can’t see any alternative other than we will have to pay for their errors ……….. and we elected them into that Office. Why, for instance, was no fund set up into which our pension monies were paid into. Mind Messrs Brown and Co would have raided them!

I have worked hard in the private sector and have saved into various pension schemes for more than 40 years only to find that the recent recession caused be irrisponsible greedy bankers and half witted politicians have eroded the value of these. To make matters worse I now have to buy an annuity with the bits I have left whilst annuity rates are now at amongst their lowest values ever, and still dropping. I cannot buy a pension that is index linked because this will reduce the small amount I will get by half. Who is going to subsidise my pension? I have nothing against teachers and all those in the public sector getting good index linked pensions, but I do resent the fact that the tax I will still pay on my paltry pension is going to subsidise their pensions.

I remember under Thatcher’s Cuts when it was common knowledge that MPs would not take a pay rise but adapt expenses – obviously some overdid it? Showing those not to be trusted. Deregulation seems to be causing a lot of the problem ,allowing them all not to check , monitor and govern competently .

It is part of human nature to live for today, dealing with todays problems, and not to plan strategically for tomorrow. This is the same in private as well as political life. As a consequence all developed countries, until relatively recently, have continued over generous pensions schemes and failed to plan for people living longer; huge numbers over 90 and increasing numbers over 100. The current readjustments are painful but necessary in both the public and private sectors for the sake of future ganerations…our children.. If the purpose of current pensions reforms is to stop future elderly people (our children) becoming dependent solely on the State, those who have made adequate provision for their retirement should be allowed to pass onto their children any uncrystallised direct contribution schemes free of Inheritance Tax beyond the age of 75years. Currently this is allowed up to this age.

Only a minority will voluntarily save enough for retirement especially when young. Those who do will see their pensions hit by high tax rates to provide a safety net for those who havent saved or those who have been on low incomes all their working life.

Therefore the only equitable solution is to provide a very good state pension paid for through income tax.

Okay no one likes higher rates of income tax – but for those who can remember back 30/40 years it used to be far far higher than the 20% it is now.

worked in the private sector 40 yrs,was paid,saved,without a bonus for actually attending.Then i retired and was very surprised when I was not given TWO yrs pay as a bonus for having endured a working life of virtual garrantied employment,good pay,very good – inflation proofed-pension,at an early age,to enjoy after developing many pastimes in my short working week”””; should have been a teacher????